Jakki Haussler
SERVICE CORP INTERNATIONALAbout Jakki L. Haussler
Independent director since 2018 (age 67), Haussler is Founder and Chairwoman of Opus Capital Management (registered investment adviser) with prior leadership in private equity/venture roles, bringing deep finance, portfolio management, and investment oversight expertise to SCI. She serves on the Audit Committee and chairs the Investment Committee, aligning with SCI’s significant preneed trust and investment oversight needs . Education: University of Cincinnati Salmon P. Chase College of Law; Northern Kentucky University . The Board classifies her as independent under NYSE and SCI guidelines .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opus Capital Management | Founder, Chairwoman; CEO (former) | Founder/Chairwoman since 1996; CEO 1996–2019 | Led investment firm; finance and portfolio management expertise applied to SCI’s investment oversight |
| Capvest Venture Fund, LP | Managing Director | 2000–2011 | Private equity growth/expansion focus; M&A/business development insights |
| Adena Ventures, LP | Partner | 1999–2010 | PE fund targeting underserved markets; M&A/business development experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure (if disclosed) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ingram Micro Holding Company | Director (public company board, per proxy) | Not disclosed | Listed as current public company board |
| Morgan Stanley Funds | Director | Not disclosed | Listed as current public company board |
| Vertiv Holding Co. | Director | Not disclosed | Listed as current public company board |
| The Victory Funds | Director | Not disclosed | Other position (investment complex) |
| Northern Kentucky University (Chase College of Law) | Founder/Member of Transaction Law Practice Center; Board of Visitors | Not disclosed | Other positions |
| NKU Foundation | Investment Committee Member | Not disclosed | Other position |
| Past public boards | Cincinnati Bell; Best Transport (now Descartes Systems); Barnes Group | Prior | Past public board experience |
Board Governance
- Independence: Independent director; Board determined 9 of 10 directors are independent (90% projected post-2025 meeting) .
- Attendance: Combined Board/committee attendance was 97% in 2024; Board held 6 meetings; committees held 20 meetings .
- Executive sessions: Non-management directors meet in executive session at each regularly scheduled Board meeting; chaired by the Lead Independent Director .
- Lead Independent Director: Marcus A. Watts; robust responsibilities include calling special meetings and liaison functions .
- Governance refresh: In 2023, Haussler named Investment Committee Chair; Board adopted proxy access (2023) and limits on outside public boards/audit committees (2024) .
Committee assignments and 2024 activity:
| Committee | Role | 2024 Meetings | Committee Attendance | Key Oversight Scope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment Committee | Chair | 4 | 100% (committee) | Oversight of preneed/perpetual care trust funds; SCI’s investment operating committee; wholly-owned RIA subsidiary and third-party RIA consultant; review of primary preneed insurance provider |
| Audit Committee | Member | 8 | 94% (committee) | Financial statements integrity; auditor oversight; internal audit; risk and cybersecurity controls; financial reporting/disclosure |
Fixed Compensation (Director – 2024)
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned/Paid in Cash | $107,500 | Base cash retainer totaled $92,500 for 2024 (retainer increased to $100,000 effective Nov 15, 2024, adding $2,500 in Q4) plus $15,000 Investment Committee Chair retainer |
| Stock Awards | $180,052 | Annual stock grant target $180,000 for 2024 (target increased to $190,000 effective Nov 15, 2024) |
| Total | $287,552 | Sum of cash and equity |
Policy notes:
- Effective Nov 15, 2024: Annual Board cash retainer increased to $100,000; annual equity target increased to $190,000 (2024 grants at $180,000) .
- Additional chair retainers: Audit Chair $25k; Compensation Chair $20k; Investment Chair $15k; NCGC Chair $15k; Lead Independent Director $30k .
Performance Compensation (Director)
| Equity Element | Structure | Performance Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Annual stock grant | Time-based annual grant sized to a target value ($180,000 in 2024; $190,000 target effective Nov 15, 2024) | None disclosed for directors; grants are value-based, not performance-conditioned |
SCI’s performance metrics (EPS, free cash flow/share, preneed production, TSR/ROE) apply to NEO pay, not director compensation .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current public company boards: Ingram Micro Holding Company; Morgan Stanley Funds; Vertiv Holding Co. .
- Interlocks/conflicts: SCI disclosed no related-party transactions involving Haussler in 2024; related-party items disclosed involved other individuals (e.g., leases related to the Waring family; compensation to a director’s relative) .
- Board overboarding guardrail: In 2024 SCI updated Corporate Governance Guidelines and Audit Committee Charter to limit director service on public boards/audit committees .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance, portfolio management, investments/equity funds; senior leadership as Founder/Chairwoman (RIA); M&A/business development from prior PE/venture roles .
- Committee fit: Investment oversight background directly aligned with SCI preneed trust and investment program oversight .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 8,257 shares (as of March 11, 2025) |
| Shares outstanding (reference) | 144,095,780 (as of March 11, 2025) |
| Ownership as % of outstanding | ~0.0057% (8,257 ÷ 144,095,780), computed from disclosed figures |
| Director ownership guideline | $500,000 within five years; measured annually at year-end price ($79.82 at Dec 31, 2024; minimum 6,265 shares for 2025) |
| Compliance status | All directors exceeded guideline levels as of March 11, 2025; Haussler’s stake (~$659,074 at $79.82/share) exceeds $500,000 guideline |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited for all directors and officers |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths:
- Independent director with investment acumen; chairs Investment Committee overseeing $8.9B trust assets and preneed insurance counterparties—key levers for SCI’s cash flow and backlog quality .
- Strong board/process indicators: high combined attendance (97%), regular executive sessions, refreshed leadership, proxy access adoption (2023), and limits on outside board/audit committee service (2024) .
- Ownership alignment: exceeds $500k director guideline; anti-hedging/pledging policies in place .
- Shareholder sentiment supportive: 83.2% say‑on‑pay approval in 2024; outreach to holders of ~60% of shares in early 2024 .
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Watch items / potential conflicts (no current red flags disclosed):
- Haussler’s RIA background and roles within fund complexes coincide with her oversight of SCI’s trust investment program; SCI discloses oversight of a wholly-owned RIA subsidiary and a third‑party RIA consultant but no related‑party transactions involving Haussler—continue monitoring any future manager selection or fee arrangements for potential conflicts .
- Board service limits updated in 2024 mitigate overboarding risk; continue to monitor time commitments across her public boards (Ingram Micro Holding Company, Morgan Stanley Funds, Vertiv) .
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RED FLAGS: None disclosed for Haussler regarding attendance, related‑party transactions, hedging/pledging, or ownership shortfalls .